It's being called an "unprecedented event," as Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley meets with state lawmakers for an "informal" breakfast.

O'Malley declined to speak to protestors and reporters on his way out of Thursday's meeting, but protestors, who are mostly advocates for clergy sexual abuse victims, said they are concerned that the church is trying to lobby lawmakers to kill bills in the House and Senate that would extend the statute of limitations.

"Cardinal Sean has said this breakfast is not here. The purpose is not to discuss these two bills, but we know better. We know that the Catholic Conference of Massachusetts and Cardinal Sean have been leading the fight against these bills," said Robert Hoatson, of the Road to Recovery.

"Children who are sexually abused at a young age typically don't come forward for 20 or 30 years. And with the laws we have right now, they're basically a get-out-of-jail-free card," protestor Paul Kellen said.

The Archdiocese insists no specific legislation was discussed.

"What we've heard from legislators is they don't know us, and so this was an opportunity for us to have a conversation with them," Boston Archdiocese spokesman Terry Donilon said.

State Sen. William Brownsberger was one of the lawmakers in attendance. He's also one of the sponsors of the bills to expand the statute of limitations.

"I think one of the considerations and the message is, 'Hey, we're doing a lot of good things with the resources we have,' they just wanted to let us know that because they're afraid that they'll have to apply some of those resources to compensate victims for the injuries that the victims have received. So, I certainly support recovery for victims. It doesn't change that algebra for me," he said.